Chapter Thirty-Four
Simon stood in the courtyard of Roman’s compound staring out over the expanse of trees in the distance.
They’d arrived back in Atlanta the night before, spending hours filling Roman and Lydia in on everything that had happened in New Orleans.
The back door opened and Roman stepped outside. “How is Madison doing?”
Simon met his gaze briefly before turning back to watch a lightning bug dance around the yard. “Her body is healed, but I’m not so sure about her mind.”
“Madison’s strong, Simon. She’ll pull through this.”
“She died,” Simon responded, unable to disguise the pain in his voice. “What she experienced, the devil himself shouldn’t have to endure.”
Roman pressed at the grass with the toe of his boot. “I know. And I hate like hell that it happened to her. But it did, and there’s nothing you can do about it but be there for her.”
Simon wanted to believe Roman’s words. “I hope you’re right, because I can’t live without her. I won’t.”
“You love her.” It wasn’t a question and Simon knew it.
“More than I’ve ever loved another. I don’t know how it happened or even when. I only know that it did.”
Roman cleared his throat. “But does she know…”
Simon opened his mouth to answer when he realized he’d never told Madison how he felt. He’d just assumed she knew. He hurried back inside and blurred his way down the hall.
Coming to a stop outside Madison’s apartment, he lifted his hand to knock.
“You may come in,” Madison called out before his knuckles touched the door.
Simon entered the room and closed the door behind him. “How are you feeling?”
Madison stood next to the bed wearing a short, sheer gown that left little to the imagination. “Take off your clothes.”
Simon nearly swallowed his tongue. His shaft instantly filled with blood to throb in time with his rapidly beating heart. “Are you sure?”
“I need you,” she whispered, reaching for the hem of her gown. She lifted the sheer material over her head and dropped it at her feet.
Without taking his gaze from her beautiful body, Simon toed off his boots and divested himself of his clothes. He wanted her in such a way, he couldn’t form the words to tell her.
“Make me forget.” She took a step toward him.
As much as Simon wanted to do just that, he needed to know that he was something more than a diversion for her memories. But she was suddenly on her knees before him with his erection in her hot mouth.
His hands sank into her hair, and his head dropped back on his shoulders. The feel of her warm, wet tongue bathing his aching shaft nearly crossed his eyes.
He could hear his pulse beating in his ears, or was that hers? He wasn’t sure. All that mattered in that moment was Madison and how she made him feel.
Her hand came up to close around his length. She applied pressure with her fist, following the pattern of her mouth as it slid up and down his rock-hard erection.
“Slow down,” he rasped, tightening his hold on her hair.
She only sucked him harder and faster until he could hold his seed back no longer.
A shout burst from him as he exploded inside the hot cavity of her mouth; his knees locking to prevent him from crumpling to the floor like an infant.
His fangs shot down, and a red haze settled over his eyes. He reached beneath Madison’s arms and jerked her to her feet.
Spinning her around, he backed her against the wall, gripped her thighs and wrapped them around his waist. “You better fucking hold on.”
Simon thrust upward, taking her in one swift motion. He turned his head to the side, snarling between clenched teeth. “Bite me!”
Madison struck, her fangs sinking into his flesh even as his cock drove into her depths.
Nothing had ever felt as incredible as Madison, wrapped around him, feeding from him, taking him into her body.
“You’re mine, Madison!” He powered into her again. “Only mine.”
She moaned against his throat.
“Tell me you’re mine,” he demanded, his hips slamming her against the wall. “Tell me!”
She broke free of his neck, her choppy breathing, echoing in his ear. “I’m yours.”
“Say it again. I need to hear it again.” Simon wasn’t sure what had come over him. He only knew that he needed to hear her confession, her admission that she belonged to him and him alone.
A gasp left her lips with his next upward thrust. “I’m yours. I’ve been yours all along.”
He slowed his movements, lifting his head to look into her eyes. “Madison?”
Blood began to pool in her whiskey-colored orbs. “I don’t know when it happened, Simon. I never wanted this, never wanted to become what I am now. But I want you, and if being vampire means more time with you, then I’ll take it.”
Simon leaned in and licked a falling tear. “I love you, Madison. God, but I love you.”
Her eyes slid shut before she opened them once again. “Show me.”